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Activity before concept and inquiry science have been around for a long time, but somehow the teachers in my district have sort of missed the boat on this method. Any ideas for resources and activities that I can do with them to help convince them that this is best practice?

Sometimes it’s hard to convince folks to change until they see the change occur and the results that you get because of the change. When I want to convince the staff I work with to do something, especially if it is technology driven, I teach it to my kids and then have them find a way of using it in their other classes. Once they do, everybody wants to know how they did that. The students then begin talking about the really neat technology and/or learning they engaged in. Their friends want to know why they don’t get to do whatever and slowly the change occurs.

Hi Abbie, By following the 5 Es inquiry model for teaching science concepts, the engagement might mean a discrepant event or some other activity to get the students' brain juices flowing. There are gobs of DEs to choose from on most any science concept. Then the exploring begins. Perhaps, you could steer your colleagues around to true inquiry lessons in this manner. Carolyn

My "ah-ha" moment came in a presentation by Arthur Eisenkraft at a regional NSTA conference. I have included a link to a presentation he made: http://cdn.umb.edu/images/cosmic/Labs_-_ABC2_-_NSTA_2012_1.pdf And here is a webseminar in which he was the presenter: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NLC/webseminarIX.aspx And here is a link to the webseminar collection, which provides a wealth of resources on the use of inquiry in teaching: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/my_learning_center/my_library.aspx?cid=kElCnYSVT5Y_E I would also recommend the BSCS - Biological Science Curriculum Study: http://www.bscs.org/ I have attended several of their workshops at NSTA conferences; I always learn something new and gain additional inspiration. Their website should provide helpful information in your endeavor to help change others minds. Finally, the best thing I could tell you is too keep doing what you are doing. When others see your success with using ABC, they will be more likely to be motivated to try it themselves. Keep up the awesome work and good luck!

I just came across an NIH website called Doing Science -The Process of Scientific Inquiry Here is more information http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih6/inquiry/intro/getting-started.htm There is a teacher's guide and lots of information about activities This Web site is based on a printed publication of the same title. Because high school teachers receive most of the limited number of printed supplements, this online version was created for people outside the grades 7–12 education community. The content is equivalent to the printed supplement, only in a different format. The unit consists of lesson plans, which are accessed through the Teacher’s Guide section of the Web site, and the multimedia student activities, which are accessed through the Student Activities page. The Web-based activities for students are only one part of the curriculum unit. The Lesson Plans provide the framework for both the hands-on classroom activities and the Web-based multimedia activities that make up this curriculum supplement. Together, the classroom and multimedia activities enable students to gain a deeper understanding of the science behind this important topic, and of how it relates to human health. Doing Science: The Process of Scientific Inquiry—developed with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)—is a creative, inquiry-based instruction program designed to promote active learning and stimulate student interest in medical topics. This curriculum supplement aims to help students develop the following major goals associated with scientific literacy: to experience the process of scientific inquiry and develop an enhanced understanding of the nature and methods of science; and to appreciate the role of science in society and the relationship between basic science and human health.